Asian airline puzzled by mysterious mid-air toilet clogs

by Scott Carmichael on

Any time you put 300 people in a metal tube, the strain on the in-flight toilet system is going to be immense – but Hong Kong based airline Cathay Pacific is having more than just a bit of trouble.

The airline is actually dealing with a huge mystery. Their toilets are so unreliable that a Hong Kong bound flight had to make an unscheduled landing in Mumbai, India when all ten of the bathrooms became clogged and unusable.

The 278 passengers on the “crappy” flight were delayed for 18 hours. But to be honest, I’d rather spend 18 hours in Mumbai than 18 minutes on a plane with no bathrooms.

In other incidents, two other Hong Kong bound flights had to refuse boarding to a substantial amount of passengers when all the bathrooms on one side of the plane stopped working.

All these incidents are on the Airbus A330 and A340 aircraft, and Cathay Pacific is said to be working overtime to figure out what is causing the problem. A Cathay Pacific spokeswoman suggested that passengers may be to blame.

‘You would be amazed at what we find in the pipes when we clean the system – not just face towels but medicine bottles, socks and even children’s stuffed toys,’

Until the real reason is uncovered, engineers are carrying out deep cleaning treatment and replacing pipes.
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Mile high club has new hero

by Tom Johansmeyer on

Joining the mile-high club is bold … doing it in the crew rest area is beyond praiseworthy. Rather than punishment, awards should be given. But, Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific takes a different view. The airline is investigating this unorthodox use of a Boeing 777, and I’m rooting for the good guys.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, a couple was found coupling in first class seats that fold out into beds (hell, what else would you do with them?). Either to offer some privacy or enjoy a private show, the frolickers were invited into the crew area to finish what they had started.

Had they called it quits after the romp, future passengers may have enjoyed the same treatment. But, there’s always someone to ruin it for the rest of us.

The passenger, who is an American doctor in his 20s, used the internet for its intended purpose: he posted pictures of himself proving that he left the skies a bit friendlier than he found them. Boredom drove him to stretch the rules, and it’s pretty clear that a lust for fame led to his 15 minutes on the internet. The encounter was aided by a crew member, “Alvin,” who the passenger knew.

I guess you could say it was an “inside job.”

Could a “paperclip” mean the end of the armrest wars?

by Scott Carmichael on

We’ve all been there – battling with your seatmate for that 2 inch wide piece of plastic that separates you. I have no idea what airline seat designers were thinking when they decided to design the armrest the way it is, but it sucks.

Of course, the current armrest was designed years ago, and part of the design consideration was that it could hold an ashtray, something that nobody has needed on an airplane for a long time.

A new design called the “paperclip armrest design” may finally bring a workable solution to the problem. The spit level design offers some armrest space for each passenger.

The concept was designed by Jame Lee, a 25 year old management trainee with Cathay Pacific Airlines. It isn’t actually available for airplanes yet, as it is awaiting patent approval.

The main problem I see with the design is that it does not leave any room for the headset connector or recline button. Then again, given how many passengers hate having a seat reclined in their face, that button may be the next thing on the chopping block.

Cathay Pacific Freezes Recruiting Because of Low Demand

by Josh Lew on

Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific has always been one of the world’s top airlines. But the ever-lower demand for air travel has touched them as it has every other airline. An article in an internal publication distributed to Cathay’s employees two weeks ago announced that there will be a company-wide recruiting freeze. No layoffs yet, but the hiring stoppage will include Cathay’s subsidiary, Dragonair. The freeze was confirmed today.

That means no fresh faces in an airline that is famous for its top-notch service (and leggy, poised flight attendants). Exec Tony Tyler remains optimistic that the industry, and Cathay, will return to their old ways in short order. ”I remain unashamedly optimistic about the future of aviation in Asia – just think of the potential in China and India alone.”

Cathay, like the regions other major players, is straining on its leash, waiting to carve out its space in new, lucrative routes in China and on the subcontinent. They just have to make it through these slow times intact.

[Via The Standard HK]

Why It’s a Good Time to Fly to Asia

by Josh Lew on

With the present conditions offering little reason for airline execs to break out the expensive cognac to toast to their success, some airlines (at least those who aren’t fearing for their lives) are looking to the future. The likes of Cathay Pacific and Finnair are developing routes to Asia that they hope will become lucrative once the world economy starts playing nice. These airlines are starting early, trying to have their brands in place before the competition. Some are offering added amenities or advertising new, faster routes. Here are some of the players:

1. Finnair claims it has the shortest route between New York and New Delhi, via its hub in Helsinki.
2. Cathay Pacific, already one of the top names in Asia, is trying to compete by adding flights to India via its Hong Kong base.
3. Northwest Airlines is trying to further develop its long running service to Japan.
4. Even American Airlines announced a 12% increase in passengers on its routes to Japan and China.
5. Singapore Airlines launched an all business class service between New York and Singapore.
6. New airlines are also competing for this growing market. India-based Jet Airways is developing a route between San Francisco and Mumbai that has become favorite of business travelers.

Via IHT